Multiple-link resilient body



Dec. 17, 1929. D. MARlNsKY 1,739,976

MULTIPLE LINK RESILI'ENT BODY Filed March 31. 1928 Ai BY y ATI'OR Y Patented Dec. 17,1929

unirse STATES DAVIS itmniuisigzv,Y on Newy YORK, N. YQ

MULTIPLE-LINK RESILIENT BODY Application led March 31, 1,9218.

This invention relates to multiple link bodl ies of various kinds and classes and particularly to bodies of this class involving resilient elements normally maintaining the links in adjacent relation and permitting the separation and expansion thereof under tension; and the object of the invention is to provide a device of the class specified comprising oppositely disposed and alternately arranged pivot portions for coupling the separate links of a body together, permitting of the vseparation of said links in fan-like fashion at either or both side edges of the body; a further object being to provide a device ofthe class specified involving an insert or coupling body interposed in the structure of a belt to provide resilient expansion and contraction of the belt to compensate for the several body movements to which the beltis subjected 2o whenin use and permittin expansion and contraction of either side e ge of the belt to maintain the garment supported thereby in proper position at all times without producin any objectionable binding effects upon the 'bodyof thewearer; a further object being to provide a device ofthe class specified which may be coupled with and constitutey an in- 'te'gral part of the buckle structure of a belt or one of the members of the buckle to pro- '30 vide what may be termed an expansible and contractable buckleY structure; and with these and other objects in view, the invention consists in a deviceof the class and for the purpose specied which is simple in construction, eliicient in use, and which is con-Y structed as hereinafter'described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed vin the following speciiication, of which the accompanying Adrawing forms apart, in which the sep arate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the` views, and in which: v

' Fig. 1 is asideview of the buckle por# tion of a belt showing one form of my im-I` proved device with part of the belt structure broken away and in section.

Fig.v 2 is a partial section4 on the line 2 2.

of Fig..1.' f' v Fig. 3 is a face view of a modified form ""0 of'cbelt buckle structurev which Ijemploy A Serial No.- 266,157.

Fig. 4L is a view similar to Fig. showing another modification; and, i

Fig. 5 is afsegmental portion of a multiple resilient link structure. f

F orthe purpose of'illustrating one general use ot my invention, I have shown in Figs. 1to 4' inclusive,.three forms of devicescon-y stituting part of a belt buckle structure, whereas in Fig. 5 I have shown a segmental portion ot' a body which may constitute a belt or band constructed of a multiplicity ofy resiliently coupled links.

v In Figs. 1 and 2 oit' the drawing, l have shown at 10 a buckler of the clamp type in-l cluding a clamp bar or like member 11 arranged within the channel 10a of the bucklek and through which the free end 12 of the beltl is adapted topass and to be secured in vditferent positions Vof adjustment bythe clamp 11. The clamp 11 extends at one lside of the buckle and is provided with a loop or ring portion 11a, with :which in the usual type of; belt structure the other end 1220i the belt is coupled, the latter being looped aroundthe ring 11a and secured by snap fastener or other devices 13. `In carrying'my invention into` effect, Idetach the end 12@L of the belt fromv the ring 11a and mount one of my improved resilient bodies 14 within and between the belt end 12a and the ring 11a.

The member 14 comprises two comparatively wide end links 15 and 16, the link 15 being looped around the ring 11a to rotatably couple the same therewith', whereas the link 16 is provided with an aperture 16a forming a ring thereoi:l to receive the loop end 12a of the belt in the manner seen clearly in Fig. 2 ot' the drawing. lnterposedl between the links 15 and 16 is a narrower link 17. The side edges of the link 17 are provided with cylindrical bearings 17a and the adjacent ends of the links land 16 are provided with cylindrical bearings 154' and 16h. i These lbearings are adapted to receive `the ends of two coil springs Y 18 `andr19 arranged around pivots 20 and 21 f which couple the linksl and 17, and 1'? and Tov 16 together, andthe ends of said coil springsV are crossed so as.tonormallyrmaintainthe cylindrical bearings 15" -17a and 16" 17 normally ,in abutting relation, and'permittmg turein fan-like fashion.

The pivots 20 and 21 include cap portions 2Oa and 21a which encircle the major portion of the springs 18 and 19, the walls of said caps being cut away to permit of a limit-ed separation of the projecting ends 'of the springs 18 and 19. This structure is shown in the cap 20a of Fig. 1 of the drawing.v It will be understood that in the relative movement of the links 15. 16 and 17, the ends of the springs 18 and 19 slidaby engage the bearings 15, 16D and 17a.

The structure of the body 14 in so tar as the coupling of the links 15, 16 andlT is concerned in the belt structure shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing is identical with that shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Therefore, like references will designate like parts in all ot said figures. In Fig. 3 of the drawing, the link 15 is modiiiedvto a slight extent by providing a slightly longer link, the ends of which are forked and fashioned to form two cylindrical bearings 15b which encircle the central cross bar 22 of a different but conventional form of buckle 23 in the form of a substantially rectangular ring, on the cross bar of which is pivotally supporting the finger 24 which passes through one of a number of apertures in the free end of the belt in the usual manner. In this construction, the link 16 is similar to the link shown'in Fig. 1 and includes an aperture 16a to receive the loop end 12a of the belt.

In Fig. l of the drawing, the structure is identical to that shown in Fig. 3 except that the link 15 is made shorter and the i''orked and curled end 15b thereof encircles one end 25 of a substantially rectangular ring buckle 26 having a linger 27, rotatably mounted on the end 25 of said buckle. Aside from the toregoing, the structure shown in Fig. 4 is identical with that shown in Fig. 3 as well as Fig. 1 of the drawing.

' In Fig. 5, I have'shown a link body 28 which is composed of two Asets of similar link members 29 and 30, two of each ofv said links being shown. The links 29 have side rtubular bearings 29a and the links 30 haveV corresponding side bearings 30 to receive thel end portions of springs, mounted on the' pivotalv ends 31 employed for coupling the vadjacent and alternate ends of said 'Llinks. i TheseV springs are of the same structure as disclosed in Figs. .1 and 2 of the` drawing, and normally serve to maintain the adjacent sides'o'f the links 29 and 30 in abutting relation underv tension and permit of the separation ,of said: links either side of the body in fan-like fashion under the increased vtensionof said'V springs, it being noted that one end' of each spring extends into a cylindrical bearing 29a of a link 29, and the other end of such spring into an adjacent bearing 30a of a link 30. The enclosing and stop movement caps 32 similar in all respects to the caps 20a and 21a, Fig. 1, are employed on the pivots 31 of the links 29 and '30. The structure shown in Fig. 5 may be used in the manufacture of expansible land ontijactable articles of any kind or class, and not necessarily an insert as. disclosed'in Figs. 1 to 4t inclusive, for eX- ample, in the construction of a belt, bracelet, strap or the like.l l

Itwill also be understood that 1ny invention is not necessarily limited to the use of three links and two pivotal connections therefor as seen in Figs. 1 to t inclusive, nor am I necessarily limited to any particular manner of coupling the same with a belt structure or the buckle of a belt. As a matter of tact, the body 14 may constitutel an inte! gral part of the belt structure and various other changes in and inodilications of the construction herein shown and described may be or concealed.' This may be noted upon a consideration of F igs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the overlapped portion of the belt being broken away in Fig. 1, but is shown in section in Fig. 2.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim asnew and desire to secure by vLetters Patent, is:

1. A body ofthe class described comprising a plurality of links having pivotal connections disposed alternately at opposite side edges of said body, and tensional means at the pivot portions of said links and engaging adjacent links for normally maintaining the f same, under tension, in abutting relation andk permitting the separation thereof under the increased'tension of said means. Y 2. A'body of the `class described comprising a plurality of links having piv,otal'connections disposed alternately at opposite side edges of said body, tensional means atl the pivot portions of said links and engaging ad? jacent links for normally'maintainingthe same, under tension, in abutting relation and permitting the separation thereof under the; increased tension of said means, said tensional means involving ycoil springs `having 3ro`ectinv end ortions and means for movably supporting said end portions in connect-ion .with adjacent links.

3..A body ofthe class ldeserjbed com-pris ing a plurality of links having pivotal connections disposed alternately at opposite side edges of said body, tensional means at the pivot portions of said links and engaging adjacent links for normally maintaining the same, *under tension, in abutting relation and permitting the separat-ion thereof under the increased tension of said means, said tensional'means involving coil springs having projecting end portions, means for movably supporting said end portions in connection witli'adjacent links, and means encircling said 'springs and cooperating with the projecting end portions thereof for limiting the separation of said links.

nections disposed alternately at opposite side edgesof said body, tensional means at the pivot. portions of said links and engaging adjacent links for normally maintaining the same,under tension, in abutting relation and permitting the separation thereof under the increased tension of said means, said ten'-V sional means involving coil springs having projecting end portions, means for movably supporting said end portions in connection with adjacent links, means encircling said spring and cooperating with the projecting end portions thereof for limiting the separa'- tionof said links, and means whereby a strap member may be coupled wit-h a link at one end of said body.

5. A body of the class described comprising a plurality of links having pivotal connections disposed alternately at opposite side edges of said body, tensional means at the pivot portions of said links and engaging adjacent links for normally maintaining the same, under tension, in abutting relation and permitting the separation thereof under the increased tension of said means, said tensional `means involving coil springs having projecting end portions, means for movably supporting said end portions in connection with adjacent links, means encircling said springs and cooperating with thel projecting end portions thereof for limiting the separation of said links, means whereby a strap member may be coupled with a link at one endA of said body, and a buckle on a` link at the other end of said body.

6. A body of the class described comprising a plurality of links having pivotal connections disposed alternately at opposite side edges of said body, tensional means at the pivot porti-ons of said links and engaging adjacent links for normally maintaining the same, under tension, in abutting relation and permitting the separation thereof under .the

increased tension of said means, said tensional means involving coilsprings having projecting end portions, means for movably supporting said end portion in connection with adjacent links, means encircling said springs and cooperatingwith the projecting nections disposed valternately at opposite sideedg'es ofsaid body, tensional means at the pivot portions of said links andengaging. adjacent 'linksfor normally maintaining i thev`v saine, undertension, in abutting rela# tion `and permitting the separation thereof under-,the increased'tension of said: means,

said tensional means involving coilsprings having projectingl `end l'port-ions, meansfor 4. A body of the class described compris-1. ing a'plurality of links having pivotal conmovably supporting 'said end portions in .connection wth adjacent links, 'nieansf encircling said springs and' cooperating-:With the projecting end portions' thereof for limitstructure pivotally supported 1in vconnection j Awith said link. 1 i

q v'8. vThe 'combination 'Withja buckle of a multiple link body, the links of-said body being pivotally'coupled by pivots'the axis of which are perpendicular tothe longitudinal and liorizontalplane of said links, coil springs onvthe pivotsof said links and lia-ving projecting end portionsengagingthe adacenti links yand normally maintaining v'adjacentedges ofsaidy links vin abuttin'gfrelai tion'under the tensioni of said spring.

9.. 'Ihecombination with a-bu'ckle of a multiplellink body, the links of-said body' being pivotally coupled', coil" springs on 'the pivotal connections of said Alinks'and having projecting end portions engaging'adjacent links and .normally maintaining said 'links in abutting relation under the tension of-said spring, and the pivotal connection of said links being disposed at opp-osite 'sides of .said-*body permitting the .separation'ojf said links at opposite sidesof said body in fan-like fashion.l f

10. The combination with a buckle of a multiple link body, the links rofsaid body be` ving.pivotallycoupled, coilsprings on the pivotalconnectionsV of said links and; having projectingyend' portions' yengaging adjacent .links and norm-ally maintaining said links in 'abuttingirelation under the tension ofsaid V11. The combinationlwith a buckle of a multiple link body, the links of said body being pivotally coupled, coil springs on the pivotal connections of said links and having projecting end portions engaging adjacent links and normally maintaining said links in abutting relation under the tensionof said iio spring., the pivotal connection of said links lbeing disposed at opposite sides of said body v permitting the separation of said links at opposite sides of said body in fan-like fashion, means on the pivotal connection of said links cooperating therewith to limit the expansion thereof, and means for detachably coupling Vone end of a belt with one of the links of said body.

12. A buckle adapted vto be mounted on one end oaf a'belt or strapcomprising a part with which the strap or belt is coupled and apart for engagement with the free end of said strap or belt, and means interposed between .said parts for tensionally maintaining 'said parts normally in adjacent relation and per- Y Vmitting the separation thereof under tension.

13.- A buckle adapted to be mounted von one end of -a belt or strap comprising a par-t with which thestrap or belt is coupled and a part for engagement with lthe free end of the strap or belt, and means interposed between said parts for tensionally maintaining said parts normally in adjacent relation and permitting the separation thereof under tension, said means comprising a link pivoted at opposite side -portions of the first named parts and .interposed therebetween permitting the separation of said parts at opposite sides thereof in fan-like fashion.` A

14. A body of the class described involving a plurality of'spring loops disposed at opposite side -edges of said body, said loops having radially extending portions directly inward-A ly with respect to said side edges, and means for coupling the radially extending portion of a loop at oneside of said body with the radially extending portion of the adjacent loop at the opposite side of said body to form a continuous resilient member of' said body. 15. A body of the class described involving a plurality of spring loops disposed at opposite side edges of -said body, said loops having radially extending portions directed inwardly with respect to said side edges, means for coupling the radially extending portion of a loop at one side of said body with the radially extending portionv of the adjacent loop at the opposite side of said body -to form a continuous resilient member of said body, and the arrangement of said radially extending portions with respect to said spring loops being such as to increase-the tension of said .loops in the operation of .separating the same in extending said body.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I'have signed my name this 30th day of March, 1928.

DAVIS MARINSKY. 

